The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, joins in applauding during President Bush's speech at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Convention, Thursday, July 20, 2006 in Washington. President Bush acknowledged persistent racism in America and lamented the Republican Party's bumpy relations with black voters as he addressed the NAACP's annual convention Thursday for the first time in his presidency. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Photo: PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, joins in applauding during...

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George W. Bush

Photo: PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS

George W. Bush

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President Bush gestures to NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, left, as a heckler yells from the audience as Bush made remarks, Thursday, July 20, 2006, at the NAACP Annual Convention in Washington. It was Bush's first time speaking to the group since taking office, after rejecting the civil rights group's invitations for five straight years. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

2006-07-21 04:00:00 PDT Washington -- President Bush on Thursday made his first appearance before the NAACP since he was elected, acknowledging the Republican Party's rocky relationship with African Americans and vowing to work with the organization on issues ranging from HIV to voting rights.

The president's words were met with a mix of support and skepticism -- including some angry heckling -- by the more than 2,000 attendees at the final plenary session of the 97th annual convention in Washington.

Bush said his decision to attend after declining invitations for five years was due in part to the leadership of the new president of the nation's oldest civil rights organization, Bruce Gordon, a former corporate executive who was elected to the post last summer.

"I am an admirer of Bruce Gordon," the president said. "We've got a good working relationship.

"I don't know if that helps you or hurts you," he added, looking at Gordon and giving his trademark chuckle.

In his 45-minute speech, Bush pledged to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina, pushed Congress to fund more research on HIV/AIDS, and urged the Senate to quickly pass legislation that would renew three provisions of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.

"President Johnson called the right to vote the lifeblood of our democracy. That was true then, and it remains true today," said Bush, who was joined at the convention by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Karl Rove, his chief political adviser.

Security was extremely tight, with attendees waiting up to an hour to go through metal detectors in the Washington Convention Center. Swarms of Secret Service agents, District of Columbia police and K-9 units scanned the crowd throughout the president's visit.

As Bush began to discuss the Voting Rights Act, which was unanimously approved Thursday in the Senate, two men were ejected by agents for screaming criticism of Vice President Dick Cheney, the recent actions of Israel and the Iraq war.

Bush moved past the disruption by saying, "I look forward to the Senate passing this bill promptly, without amendment, so I can sign it into law."

The 25-year extension of three provisions of the voting act has been a main focus throughout the weeklong convention. On Wednesday, delegates took buses to Capitol Hill to lobby for the renewal of the provisions, which require that certain states and counties with a history of voter discrimination obtain federal approval before making any changes to election procedures; that federal observers be present if there is evidence of voter intimidation; and that counties with a significant non-English-speaking population provide bilingual ballots.

On Thursday, before Bush spoke, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told attendees that Congress overwhelmingly supports the measure. The House passed its version of the bill July 13.

"It wasn't easy, but when Republicans and Democrats get together and deal with civil rights in a bipartisan manner, there is no stopping us," the Wisconsin congressman said. "The Congress has done the right thing and we have overcome."

Racism has not been overcome, though, in America, Bush admitted during his talk. The president, who received just 10 percent of the black vote in the 2004 election, said he wants to mend the rift between African Americans and Republicans.

"I understand that many African Americans distrust my political party," he said, drawing applause. "I consider it a tragedy that the party of Abraham Lincoln let go of its historical ties with the African American community. For too long, my party wrote off the African American vote, and many African Americans wrote off the Republican Party.

"History has prevented us from working together; I want to change the relationship."

Again noting his relationship with Gordon, Bush said, "I don't expect him to become a Republican and neither do you, but I do want to work with him."

Bush said he met Gordon after Hurricane Katrina and said the two have been working together since to help the citizens of the Gulf Coast recover. "We've got a plan, and we've got a commitment," the president said. "It's a commitment to the people of the Gulf Coast of the United States to see to it that their lives are brighter and better than before the storm."

Bush also touched briefly on his support for Medicare for the elderly, government funding for churches and charter schools, and home and business ownership opportunities for African Americans.

"Ownership is vital to making sure this country extends its hope to every neighborhood," Bush said. "Most of your forefathers didn't come seeking opportunity -- they came in chains as the property of other people. Today, their children and grandchildren now have an opportunity to own their own property."

The president acknowledged that the AIDS epidemic is ravaging communities, especially among African Americans, and called on Congress to reform and reauthorize the Ryan White Act.

Bush said he saw the convention not only as a time to discuss issues, but also as an opportunity to celebrate the heroism of the civil rights movement and the accomplishments of the NAACP.

"I come from a family committed to civil rights," he said. "For nearly 200 years, our nation failed the test of extending the blessings of liberty to African Americans. Slavery was legal for nearly 100 years and discrimination legal in many places for nearly 100 years more."

"It was a powerful reminder of hardships this nation has been through in a struggle for decency," Bush said of his visit.

"You guys killed him -- you better say that," a woman shouted from the audience.

There was noticeable tension between Bush and NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, a lifelong civil rights activist. Criticism of Bush by Bond and past NAACP President Kweisi Mfume contributed to the president declining previous invitations to speak before the organization.

After the speech, NAACP delegates had mixed reactions to the president's words.

"I thought it was great," said Elbert Cain of Mount Vernon, Ill. "I am glad he was able to say he approves of the Voting Rights Act in public, before us."